“If you have a favorite cult film, you should only hope that it gets on Grindhouse Releasing’s radar, as they have done exceptionally well by The Swimmer. A fascinating film, it’s been matched by a tremendous presentation, both in terms of the audio/video quality and the depth and quantity of the bonus content, especially the hugely enlightening documentary,” says DVD Talk.

“FIVE STARS! Continues Grindhouse’s exemplary work in the BD realm, with a gorgeous filmic offering…THE SWIMMER looks fresh and inviting on this disc, preserving the moods and mystery of the original cinematography. Scoring (from the late Marvin Hamlisch) stands out as clean and rich with instrumentation, providing bold orchestral support to the picture without drowning out the on-screen action. As with the visual experience, everything here is freshly prepared, delivering what was originally designed without distortion. It’s bold work and a forgotten film that deserves a fresh audience, with this exemplary BD providing a perfect opportunity to discover its numerous treasures.” – Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com

“‘The Story of ‘The Swimmer’ is a miraculous five-part documentary from Innis that dissects the feature in full, with specific attention to Lancaster’s star power and the BTS strife that almost prevented the movie from being released. Enthusiastic interviews are richly detailed with anecdotes and memories…the candor put forth here is outstanding, generating a riveting tale of a Hollywood tug of war…It’s an exhaustive documentary, but there’s never a dull moment.” – Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com

Based on the famous story by John Cheever, THE SWIMMER stars Lancaster as Ned Merrill, a man who confronts his destiny by swimming home, pool by pool, through the suburban nightmare of upper-class East Coast society. The film was directed by Frank Perry from a script by Eleanor Perry.

“THE SWIMMER is a knockout punch of a film and one of the great dramas of the 1960s…a terrific package!” says DVD Verdict.

Nathaniel Thompson of Mondo Digital writes, “The much-needed special edition by Grindhouse easily eclipses them all both in terms of technical presentation and supplements…in HD, it really looks fantastic. There hasn’t been any ridiculous digital manipulation, either; it still looks like film all the way. Audio options include a DTS-HD mono track (which sounds great) and, in a nice gesture, an isolated stereo presentation of the music score by Marvin Hamlisch (his film debut).”

The disc also includes a vintage audio recording of author John Cheever reading his short story “The Swimmer”, originally published in The New Yorker in 1964; extensive still galleries, storyboards, deleted scenes, artwork from around the world, the complete screenplay, a 12-page booklet with insightful essays by Innis and director Stuart Gordon (RE-ANIMATOR).

“Grindhouse Releasing gives THE SWIMMER a fantastic Blu-ray debut. The presentation is up to the high standards set by their past releases as are the supplements which prove to be both comprehensive and genuinely interesting. The story behind this one is just as interesting as the movie itself. A fantastic package through and through.” – Ian Jane, Rock! Shock! Pop!

“The new Grindhouse Releasing of THE SWIMMER looks marvelous…I love this film, which has elevated to a cult status in certain circles. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.” – Flicker Alley

“The new high definition digital restoration created from 4K scans brings this movie back to its original gleaming glory. THE SWIMMER is a beautifully photographed film and you will get to see all the spectacular imagery with this special edition. The superbly produced Blu-ray/DVD package is jammed with extra features that will give new and old fans of the movie a very complete view of the production from start to finish. Recommended!” – Furious Cinema

“An emotionally draining experience. THE SWIMMER is a very effective, and sometimes surreal drama. The freshly restored print alone would likely warrant a purchase from most fans of the film, but as to be expected with Grindhouse Releasing, there are a wealth of incredible bonus features that make this truly essential. The highlight of the package would have to be THE STORY OF THE SWIMMER, a brand-new 2 1/2 hour documentary by Oscar winner Chris Innis.” – Brain-Hammer.com

“A BIZARRE MASTERPIECE…This remarkable restoration of THE SWIMMER is not to be missed.” – Mack Blankenship, SSS Horror Reviews

“It isn’t every day that a movie such as The Swimmer is released to the screen, but thankfully Grindhouse Releasing has realized the glory of this film, and how its impact can continue to be felt, so many years after its original theatrical run. The Swimmer is simply one of the must-see home video releases of 2014.” – George Pacheco, 10K Bullets

Lancaster stars in THE SWIMMER as Ned Merrill, a man who confronts his destiny by swimming home, pool by pool, through the suburban nightmare of upper-class East Coast society. Roger Ebert hailed THE SWIMMER as “brilliant and disturbing”, and Lancaster “superb in the finest performance of his career.”

The new Blu-ray/DVD set features a vintage audio recording of John Cheever reading his famous story “The Swimmer”, which first appeared in The New Yorker in 1964.

THE SWIMMER Blu-ray/DVD also offers a 12-page booklet with liner notes by director Stuart Gordon (RE-ANIMATOR), rare production stills from the lost alternate scenes, extensive still galleries, trailers, TV spots, and more. The cover art for the disc is a new painting by renowned Stephen King cover artist Glen Orbik (JOYLAND, THE COLORADO KID).

THE SWIMMER is the latest home video release from Grindhouse Releasing, the company founded by Sage Stallone (1976-2012) and Bob Murawski and known for its restorations of Italian cult-horror classics such as Lucio Fulci’s THE BEYOND and Ruggero Deodato’s CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST.

“We are thrilled to be bringing THE SWIMMER to Blu-ray and DVD in one of our most comprehensive releases to date,” says Grindhouse Releasing president and co-founder Bob Murawski. “THE SWIMMER is one of those offbeat late-60s studio films that really defies explanation. It is ultimately as bleak and emotionally disturbing as anything by Deodato or Gaspar Noe. We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to present this almost-forgotten classic, and, as usual, have spared no effort or expense in giving it the best release possible.”

THE BIG GUNDOWN, a massive 4-disc set of the celebrated spaghetti Western that includes Blu-ray, DVD, and the original soundtrack by Ennio Morricone on CD, was hailed as the “the Blu-ray release of the year…absolutely stunning” (DVD Verdict), “a must-see” (Blu-ray.com). “superb on every level” (Cinema Retro) and “first-rate…one of the best home entertainment packages of the year” (The Film Corner).

CORRUPTION, the first U.S. home video release of the gory Peter Cushing shocker, earned applause from horror connoisseurs around the world. CORRUPTION was named Blu-ray of the Year (The Splatter Times) and called “the answer to many a horror fan’s prayers…easily one of the most significant British horror releases in the Blu-ray era…definitely one for the ages and, in its own bloody and twisted way, a little miracle most fans never expected to happen.” (Mondo Digital)

Among the next Blu-ray titles from Grindhouse Releasing are Ruggero Deodato’s CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST and Lucio Fulci’s THE BEYOND, for which Murawski and Innis recently shot a new featurette on location in New Orleans.

Grindhouse Releasing will also issue Fulci’s CAT IN THE BRAIN, Duke Mitchell’s GONE WITH THE POPE and MASSACRE MAFIA STYLE, Juan Piquer Simon’s PIECES, in a new 4K transfer, and S.F. Brownrigg’s SCUM OF THE EARTH.